With a unique talent for blending catchy Americana with exotic Mexican folk, inspired by frontman David Wax's college studies in Mexico, the unsigned Museum drew about 50 people to Shank Hall on Wednesday night. Based on the reaction to the joyous 95-minute set, that number will certainly be higher when the wonderful Wax comes back to town. | Sept. 26, 2013»Read Full Article(1)

As a self-described "Navy kid," Greta Wohlrabe grew up all over the world. But since arriving here as a Milwaukee Repertory Theater intern in 2010, the 29-year-old actor has logged a lot of time in Wisconsin, making a name for herself in a series of high-profile performances at the Rep, Renaissance Theaterworks and American Players Theatre.

Along with Rep associate artist Reese Madigan, Wohlrabe is now on stage in the Wisconsin premiere of David Ives' "Venus in Fur," which the Rep is billing as the "hottest and sexiest date night in Milwaukee." Laura Gordon directs. | Sept. 25, 2013»Read Full Article

Jam band Widespread Panic kicks off a three-night residency at the Riverside on Thursday.

The golden rule for opening a restaurant is "location, location, location." For booking a concert, one of the key considerations is timing.

Large-theater and arena concerts with similar followings are typically spaced out in a market like Milwaukee — otherwise, ticket sales can suffer. It apparently happened in August, when boy bands Big Time Rush and The Wanted played separate shows within two weeks of each other at the Riverside Theater. The balcony for the heavily-hyped Wanted was practically empty, while deep discounts through Groupon were used to drive people to Big Time Rush. | Sept. 25, 2013»Read Full Article(1)

Rae Cassidy went from the hardest year of her life to one of the greatest adventures she's ever had.

A 22-year-old Milwaukee native — daughter of Semi-Twang guitarist Jason Klagstad, who is also senior vice president of comprehensive, Grafton-based music business K-Nation Entertainment — Cassidy moved to New York a year ago to develop her music career. Following a challenging transition, she fell in with San Fermin, a classical chamber-pop group whose ambitious, newly released self-titled album bodes well for a bright future. | Sept. 25, 2013»Read Full Article

The Library of America recently published 'John Updike: The Collected Stories,' a two-volume boxed set of 186 stories arranged in chronological order. I'm planning to read one or more a week and comment on them each Wednesday until I finish the collection or fall apart.

"Friends From Philadelphia" (1954), Updike's second published story, gets off to a suitably sexy start, with a male glimpse of thigh "below the half-drawn shade" and a view of "quite short shorts." | Sept. 25, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. unveiled designs Wednesday for an understated but sophisticated lakefront building that will be the largest office tower erected downtown in 40 years.

“The opportunity to conceive, design and then construct an architectural masterpiece on a site that is among the most beautiful in the country, right here on the Milwaukee lakefront, that is just another sign of the tangible progress we have made,” said John E. Schlifske, the president and CEO of Northwestern Mutual, at an event to unveil the designs. | Sept. 25, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(84)

Good morning. Here's a few things to entice you toward fun on this Wednesday.

First, the Milwaukee Film Festival gets started tomorrow. So today is your last chance to grab one of the program books, peruse the choices and make a plan. You can find the program books all over the city. | Sept. 25, 2013»Read Full Blog Post